THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) expressed support to Senate Bill No. 2501 or the “Act Penalizing Willful and Indiscriminate Discharge of Firearms,” which seeks tougher penalties against persons for indiscriminate discharge of firearms.
CHR executive director Jacqueline de Guia said any firearm-related violence threatens the most fundamental human right — right to life.
She added that as gun violence continues to rise, the matter of gun ownership and control is a national concern that needs to be addressed.
The government has the obligation to fight actual or foreseeable threats to life and should therefore take measures to protect people from gun violence, even from its own agents and officials, according to de Guia.
Firearms are not mere playthings and should only be used as a last resort, the CHR official said.
De Guia said that numerous instances in the past have shown how falling bullets fired during celebratory gunfire have injured and even killed innocent individuals, .
She added that the passage of SBN 2501 is a welcome legislative measure, together with continuing firearm safety education to help protect the fundamental rights of the Filipino people by deterring the number of incidents involving reckless and indiscriminate use of firearms.